Friday, 30 January 2009

I was elated to see a few hours after posting about 'Chikalicious', owner extraordinaire Don, hubby of Chika, posted a comment on my previous post ... For that they deserve another plug with pics ...Here's a peek at the delectable creations of Chika from Prix Fixe menu that awaits you ...

One day, I'm taking a trip to New York!A dear friend asked me 'why'?Well here's one very good reason ...Today on Martha Stewart, as part of her 10th street restaurant tour she took us to 'Chikalicious' ...Est. 2003, Husband and Wife team Don and Chika Tillman feature fresh,fun and innovative individual desserts, as served in NYC’s top restaurants.

This intimate, 20-seat eatery is built around an open kitchen where the chefsand sommelier work and serve customers directly.

If you are passionate about food, here is your chance to enjoy fabulousdesserts while watching both their preparation and plating.The 3-course Prix Fixe menu, described as American desserts, French Presentation and Japanese tasting portions (guests wishing a quantitybased “brimming at the seams” experience, are encouraged to order additionalor “add-on” desserts @ $7 per), is $12; and includes an amuse, dessert ofyour choice, and assorted petit fours.

They also offer a select list of wines, dessert wines, ports, and champagne,along with organic coffees and teas.

To top the Martha segment off Chika demonstrated how to make the delish and delicate Vanilla Port Bosc Pear ... recipe hereIf this isn't one of the best reasons to go to New York then I don't know what is ?I'm on a mission to locate more New York must see, must have ideas ...

Yesterday Dad was transferred back to the twilight zone aka nursing home ... but sent me into crackup mode when he "lost" his watch.In the over thirty degree temperature with a nasty hot wind blowing I traipsed to buy him a watch. Dad believes the more you pay the better it is - so I selected a $99 Citizen watch ... As I returned, hot and bothered, at the nursing home gate I got a call to say the watch had been found ... in his bed.I was livid ... yet another a useless excursion ... I was so over it! As I stood beside his bed listening as he critised the watch. I cried like a big girl and through my tears I proclaimed "I can't do this anymore, you're a full time job, nothing I do is right or ever enough, I get no thanks from you" ... I flounced into the bathroom blubbing with the image of his eyes like saucers, at my performance, in my brain!Did it shake him back to reality ... who knows ... They did a mini psyche geriatric test on him before leaving the hospital ... Dad scored 15/30 ... so does that mean he's only there half the time ?We arrive as babies, why do so many people leave as them too?

Dad has a watch on each arm ...I'm having a rest day today no visit till tomorrow ... I'm tired, fed up and want my life back ... situation normal ...Please don't let me do this to my girls ...

Tuesday, 27 January 2009

In December while browsing the Finder Keepers Market at the Carriageworks we discovered Rebound Books. Natalie and Ben turn old books into timeless treaures ... diaries, journals or notebooks ... I was enamoured. For years I'd lugged round a Golden Book, apparently for this very reason.I contacted the wonderful Natalie and Ben, yes send your book they said and today it arrived back to me as my 2009 Diary ...I am ecstatic, can you believe this gem ...

The introduction inside the first page tells the story of Rebound. Each book is printed locally using vegetable based inks on Australian made, 100% recycled paper ... wait till you see what they do with the spine of each book Next comes a page for New Year resolution notes and the Auslan alphabet ... Next 2009 and 2010 calendars ...

Then the beautiful introduction page from my Little Golden Book ... yes the story from my cover book is included ...

Every page from the original book is sprinkled throughout the diary ... ... as well as a blank page for notes or whatever take your fancy ... bliss.

I've told you early enough to start and plan for gifts throughout the year. Be the first to give these beautiful gifts.

Natalie and Ben came up with this brilliant idea and deserve optimum support in another step to saving our planet with their recycling, ingenious, invention ... gotta go and fill in my diary ... Yayyyyyyyyy

Dad's still battling on! Battling with me, the nursing staff, the Geri Docs who he told to "Piss Off" and anyone in sight or earshot ... he's become and angry man.He's had 'seizures' as well as mini strokes ... which may have some bearing on his changed nature.After 12 days visiting, sitting while he sleeps, I'm taking a couple of days off.

On Thursday he was sitting out in one of chair beds. When I arrived he grunted and went promptly back to sleep. A short time later he opened his eyes and said, "There's no need for you to be sitting there every day".OK ...

There is now a Heritage Centre -open every Wednesday 10am - 2pm. Entry is free.

Today the Geriatrician said Dad's condition is 'precarious'. Dad is eating soft food, grumbling, sleeping a lot. The swelling in his feet and ankles has subsided. He's on oxygen permanantly, they're monitoring his kidney function, they say he'll be in hospital for at least another week ... I'll keep you posted while taking each day as it comes.

My Dear ole Dad's was taken to hospital on Sunday. Heart attack, pneumonia and generally in a poor condition. He's had flu for three weeks but had everyone in the nursing home believing he was fine ... things were looking very grim till today, he's back from the brink ... I'm in Dorter mode ... my blogging pledge is on hold for a few days ... I'll get back to you shortly. xo

This blog's about a maximalist, renaissance womans' quest to re-fabulise fabularity from collected, scrounged, rescued, inherited, fossicked and acquired hordes that others regard as waste! A self taught mixed media artist, this late bloomer, includes quirkyness, frustrations and opinions to show life's too short to be precious or to take everything too darn seriously!
Making every post a winner, creating something out of 'nothing' and turning my excess creative stash into cash make my life bliss!